Advice on buying a point-and-shoot digital camera?

I'm looking to buy a digital point-and-shoot camera somewhere in the price range of about $400.

I want something that doesn't blur easily (I can never seem to hold my hands still, lol) and works well in low light (I'm not fond of the flash because I think it makes the colors look too washed...or maybe I'm just a bad photographer).

At the moment, I have a Nikon Coolpix L1, and I'm severely disappointed with it.

Please suggest something better! All opinions very much welcomed. :)

If you want a very good P&S, I recommend the Canon G9. I own it and it is an excellent camera. I highly recommend it. If you reseach different places I'm sure you can find it for a good price.

If you want something that does well in low light without flash, you don't want a point and shoot. Most will just give you a large amount of noise at an ISO of 400 or higher. If you can't afford an DSLR, look into getting an advance point and shoot. They still have most of the problems that a regular point and shoot has, but you have more options when it comes to taking the pictures. You can set it in full manual mode, full auto, or a mixture of them.

I recommend that you buy a DSLR camera with a very fast lens. You won't find what you need for less than a minimum of $1,500 and maybe more than that.

You will NEED an camera with image stabilization if you can't hold it steady and maybe even a tripod.

I suggest that you go to several different camera stores and talk to the sales person and see what they tell you.

For the price range you stated there are several advanced point and shoot cameras with image stabilization/antishake. The canon SX100is is just one example. Go to a camera store and try them out, see which one you like, that's my best advice.

Advice on buying a point-and-shoot digital camera?

Simple answer - don't, buy a DSLR instead.

Chris

I think the best p/s on the market in that price range is the canon G9. Don't know if you can get it for less than $400, I think they retail for a little more but check amazon.com

sony cybershot DSC-W300 or canon power shot sd1100 is.

Buy a dslr.

If you want something to take to parties and the beach that'll fit in your pocket I understand the need for a P&S. I just played around with a Samsung NV15. It was awesome and had every single manual setting under the sun. IDK if that makes a huge difference because its not capable of what a DSLR can do but its a nice camera. Has a 5x optical zoom which is better than most which only have 3x. There are super zooms but the bodies are so big that you're better off with a DSLR, I read some reviews for the Samsung and the only complaints were about evil red eye (due to the distance of the flash from the lens) I didn't have any problems with my test. Colors were great too. The in camera slide show is awesome. It has a full manual setting so you can learn about the camera and how to prevent "wash out". Then maybe you'll love taking total control so much you'll out grow out of it and buy a DSLR.

So yea, Samsung NV15 $180 includes a 2gig card at circuit city right now. Or buy a Leica if you want to spend $400. If I had $400 to buy P&S that's what I would get. But I don't so I would buy the Samsung.

One other thing. If money is no object but you like the size of a point and shoot the smallest DSLR on the market - Olympus E420 about $600. Its nice small and beats any Point and Shoot at close to the same size.

Hope this helps.